Application Specialist

The Application Specialist is the Subject Matter Expert (S.M.E.) pertaining to the current and/or future ERP and/or Applications deployed within BPL i.e. Cargowise, Compu-Clearing, etc. The Application Specialist is responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with the defined (internal and/or external) client, identifying client needs, ensuring that the service provider is able to meet the needs with an appropriate catalogue of services, and ensuring that on-going delivery of services is effective and meets client’s needs and is received positively. Qualifications & Experience• Matric (Grade 12)

• Bachelor’s Degree (3 years) / NQF Level 7
• 5+ Years’ experience of I.T. and Business Process Management, including strategic planning, implementation and maintenance of Applications Systems including E.R.P. solutions.

• 5+ Years’ management experience in a logistics/manufacturing environment, including coaching and growing a team Key Responsibilities• Must be able to conduct formal functional training to the BPL user community.

• Accountable for release management, testing and sign-off, (I.T. – Vendor – and Business) relating to enhancements, changes, parameter changes, interfaces, functionality, training, etc.
• Know key staff within the client and from personal relationships.
• Identify the service needs of the client and represent them to the IT management team, including functionality, performance, capacity, availability, security, service continuity, etc.
• Represent the client SLA negotiations with the applicable Service Owners.
• Represent the client in the process of negotiating and agreeing internal supplier supporting service agreements.
• Work closely with IT management, Applications Development and Service Owners on new service and projects for the client.
• Work closely with applicable Service Owners to deliver services effectively.
• Work closely with the Service Desk.
• Manage and escalate service delivery issues.
• Coordinate activity on incidents and problems with supporting Service Owners.
• Communicate issues and status as required.
• Coordinate changes and implementations with the Service Owners.
• Report to the client on service performance.
• Monitor and measure client satisfaction, and escalate issues to resolution
• Provides support to the IT Solutions Teams in identifying the appropriate solutions required by the user areas; assist IT Leadership in performing a needs analysis of the relevant business areas and in matching user needs to system capabilities to ensure the new system is easily and quickly integrated into the client’s business environment.
• Works with Business areas in the Operational Readiness activities to provide support and coordination to ensure adoption of new system and business processes.
• Serves as Subject Matter Expert, providing technical and analytical guidance to the program and project teams.
• Ability to work/operate across all functional boundaries, company structures and with external vendors and forging string working relationships.
• Ensure that customer satisfaction is maintained at all times.